Grave stick



Patented June 10, 1924.

OSCAR S. SCRUGGS, OF CLINTON, TENNESSEE.

GRAVE STICK.

Application filed September 8, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR S. SoRUees, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Anderson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to undertakers appliances and more particularly to casket supports or grave sticks.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for temporarily supporting a casket or the lowering device therefor over an open grave and which is so constructed as not to interfere in any way with the operation of the lowering device.

Another object is to so construct such a device that it may be readily carried in a hearse or ambulance at all times ready for i use when needed thereby dispensing with the use of heavy, unsafe and bunglesome wooden sticks.

Another object is to provide a casket sup port of this character which may be extended or contracted to support caskets of varying widths and be used in connection with graves of different sizes.

With these and other objects in veiw, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of an open grave with a casket shown in dotted lines supported on the sticks constituting this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the sticks.

Figure 3 is a detail. longitudinal section of one of the sticks, and

Figure 4 is atransverse section thereof.

The support embodying this invention comprises two sticks 1 and 2 which are ex actly alike and are designed to be positioned at spaced intervals to support a casket C over an open grave as is shown clearly in Fig. 1. These sticks 1 and 2 are exactly alike and hence one only will be described in detail.

Each of said sticks includes a hollow metallic casing 3, polygonal in contour, and as shown rectangular in cross section. The hollow casing 3 is of any suitable size and has each end open. Slidabl'y' mounted in Serial No. 499,184.

each end of the casing 3 is a solid metallic arm of polygonal contour. The arms are indicated at 6, 7, and are capable of being extended or retracted with respect to the ends of the casing 3, so as to increase or decrease the length of the stick when desired. The arms 6 and 7 are of the same contour as the contour of the casing 3 and further have a close sliding fit with the inner face of the casing 3. One wall of the casing 3, between its center and each end, is provided with a lengthwise extending slot, and said slots are indicated at 4: and 5.

Carried by each of the arms 6 and 7, in close proximity to the inner end thereof is a laterally projecting threaded stud 8, and one of said studs 8 extends through the slot 4 and the other through the slot 5. The outer end wall of each of the slots 4, 5, limits the outward movement of an arm, and the inner end wall of each of the slots 4: 5, limits the inward movement of an arm.

Wing nuts 9 are mounted on the studs 8 and are adapted to engage the slotted wall of the casing 3 for the purpose of clamping the arms 6 and 7 in adjusted position with respect to the casing 3.

These sticks are preferably of a length so that when closed they will measure about thirty inches long and when extended will measure sixty inches although obviously they may be any desired length. By constructing the sticks as herein shown and described they will be strong enough to support the heaviest casket and are of a size so that they may be readily carried in any hearse or carriage without inconvenience and when laid across an open grave to support a casket will not in any way interfere with the operation of a lowering device.

The use of these sticks is obvious and consequently a detail description thereof is not deemed necessary.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawing and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim A grave stick for supporting a casket or casket lowering device over a grave comprising a polygonal shaped hollow casing of substantial length, said casing open at each end and further having one of its walls between its center and each end provided with a lengthwise extending slot and having one of its other walls providing a seat for the casket'or lowering device, a

pair of slidable polygonal shaped arms each extending in one end of and independently lengthwise adjustable with respect to the casing to increase or decrease the length of-the stick, a laterally projecting threaded element carried by one side face of each suspension arm and extending outwardly ture hereto.

OSCAR S. SCRUGGS. 

